Trembling aspen and white birch are scattered widely among these communities (Schindler and Brunskill 1971) and may occur in relatively pure stands in some exposed upland areas with good soil. Black ash is found in small stands on moist sites, while white cedar is found almost exclusively along the shorelines of lakes within a few metres of the water.
Red pine occurs primarily on well-drained, sandy soils near the shorelines of lakes. Occasionally, pure stands of younger trees will occur on particularly suitable sites, but often only a few old trees may be found, sometimes in close proximity to similar white pine trees. These trees have probably survived one of more fire events and fire scars often may be found on such trees. Their survival can be attributed to locations near lakes and on lower elevation sites where the fires burn with less intensity. The ELA is near the northwestern limits for white pine growth and the distribution in the ELA of both red and white pine is severely limited by forest fires.
Among the other forest tree species found in the ELA are white elm (Ulmus americana L.), largetooth aspen (Populus grandidentata Mich.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), mountain maple (Acer spicatum Lam.), pin cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica L.f.), and chokecherry (Prunus virginiana L.). In addition, there are hundreds of species of herbaceous plants, mosses, liverworts and lichens. Dried specimens representing approximately 100 of these species are preserved in a small herbarium at the ELA field station. No comprehensive inventory of plants in the forest understory has been conducted.
